Exploring Brock’s hidden gems

Apart from the Brock Bullet and the interactive touchscreen graduate photo album in the Tower, there are many other hidden gems around campus — but not-so-hidden as they may seem. Here are just a few things that students may not know about at Brock:

Pop culture overload

Christy Mitchell/The Brock Press

Skip the boring Thistle stairs to get to the third floor of the complex and take a trip around the popular culture world. A stairwell adjacent to the Sean O’ Sullivan Theatre has promotional posters of productions that were showcased on the Sean O’ Sullivan stage. Starting from the basement and going up all four flights of stairs, students will see many fun, colorful and vintage-esque posters pasted on all sides of the walls. Walking and talking through these stairs is like being in a time machine, and there is surely at least one picture that will bring you back to the good ol’ days.

The block of no return

Christy Mitchell/The Brock Press

Wondering where you can study on campus? There are no empty seats on any floor of the library to study. Isaac’s and Skybar are just a gateway to slacking off. The smell of the food from Union Station is too tempting to handle if you study in Plaza. These and many more are the realities for the nose-in-the-book type students. If you’re up for a brisk walk with a worthy reward, venture far into Mackenzie Chown H Block enough that you can smell the fermenting wine in Inniskillin Hall. Buried deep within this block, there is an almost always empty lecture room with plenty of space to spread your books and work for hours in silence. Since you’re studying in H block, the silence is guaranteed.

Taking in the great outdoors

Christy Mitchell/The Brock Press

Not many students realize that Brock is located within the Greenbelt, which is a government protected green space occupied by wildlife, forests, wetlands and The Bruce Trail. Behind Thistle and just outside of Market is a campfire area accessible to all students. Many on-campus clubs have hosted various events in Alphie’s Trough, from meet-and-greets to executive meetings; from making s’mores to repurposing the area as an outdoor classroom. Regardless of how students spend their time in this area, the crisp, fresh air, the beautiful scenery and the occasional spotting of a deer or two, Alphie’s Trough is a sight to see before you graduate.

About Cate Talaue

Cate Talaue is currently in her fifth year at Brock University. Having completed her first Bachelors degree in English Language & Literature, she is working towards completing her second degree in Media & Communications this year. Cate is very active on campus, working for various departments and volunteering with many clubs. She is also passionate about media as well as holistic wellness. This is her third year working with The Brock Press, though she has been an active contributor before then.